Sign In

Search

Queen Elizabeth II Hospitalized

The Queen of Britain, Elizabeth II, was hospitalized sunday afternoon after experiencing stomach pains, according to reports by the Buckingham Palace.

The 86-year-old Queen was taken to King Edward VII's Hospital in London "as a precautionary measure" and is expected to stay for two days, said a palace spokesman. According to reports the Queen has been suffering from Gastroenteritis-like symptoms in the past few weeks.

As a precaution, the Queen canceled all official engagements for this week, the palace said in a statement. Queen Elizabeth's two-day trip to the city of Rome had been planned to start Wednesday as a spokeswoman said the trip may be scheduled for a later date.

Gastroenteritis is known to be an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. It is commonly known as "stomach flu," it is not caused by the influenza virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fortunately for Queen Elizabeth II, the symptoms of gastroenteritis - vomiting and diarrhea - usually pass after one or two days, although they can be more severe in older or otherwise vulnerable people due to weak immune systems, Dr. Corey Siegel, a gastroenterologist, said. Dehydration is also a common symptom.

The National Health Service of Britain says that the two most common causes of gastroenteritis in adults are food poisoning and the norovirus, a common winter vomiting bug which typically afflicts between 600,000 and 1 million Britons each year. British health guidelines advise that people with the norovirus avoid work for at least two days, which the Queen has so wisely done.